The Call of Sedona- Journey of the Heart, by Ilchi Lee
Review by: Dylan R. Marshall
Many people have been to Sedona, and many more will come. The draw of its visual majesty is undeniable. Sedona is, and always will be a source of Awe and Inspiration.
Mr. Lee knows all of these things…and more.
He uses plain and straightforward language, and his personal experiences, to take you by the hand and share his Joy, Passion, and Discovery of this spiritual refuge.
‘The Call of Sedona- Journey of the Heart’ is quite possibly the most deeply passionate book ever written about the Red Rocks.
Ilchi Lee playing his flute
Mr. Lee takes us there by sharing himself:
“I was born in December 1950, amidst the fires of the Korean War. When I was young, I was unusually softhearted and physically weak. I encountered many difficulties because I couldn’t focus well on my studies at school…demanding questions like, “Why am I here?” wouldn’t leave me alone, so I couldn’t focus on what I was supposed to be learning.”
He speaks of a transformative experience:
“…at age 14, I was involved in a tragic accident. I went to go swimming in the reservoir with a friend and he drowned. Because of the shock and grief I felt, I was sick in bed for nearly a month afterward and experienced acute fear and anxiety about death.”
He comments on his indignation with Life:
“God, if you put me on this world without bothering to get my permission, shouldn’t you at least tell me why I should live?”…I felt a resentment that wasn’t directed toward anyone in particular and I was bursting with questions that had no answers.”
He shares his frustrating early searches for those answers:
“…I started wandering about in search of someone who could give me the answer to the issues of life and death, or at least offer some clues! I looked for and found books about philosophy and the spiritual world, and every time I had a chance, I would seek out people who were said to have performed ascetic practices in the mountains…But I couldn’t find anything that resonated within me…”
Moak Mountian in Korea
He speaks of his enlightenment:
“I had reached that moment where I had to give up on “life and death”- whether I wanted to or not. As I resigned myself to my fate, I said, “O Heaven…Please do as you see fit”…And that’s when something amazing happened…”
“…I had come to have faith that if I gave my sincere devotion to an extreme situation, a strength other than my own would come and guide me, lifting me up.”
“…music of the universe reverberated in my heart and the breath of nature went in and out through my skin.”
The Amazing Bell Rock, Sedona Arizona
He talks of his discovery of Sedona:
“In early 1996, I was reading a newspaper…I saw a photo that immediately grabbed my attention…The red rocks were so real they felt like they might jump out of the paper at me.”
He shares his first experiences with a Sedona guide:
“This guide…came to me one day and said, “There’s a saying, ‘When you come to Sedona, you have to set aside all of your personal thoughts and desires. If you don’t, you can’t receive Sedona’s energy and furthermore you could pollute Sedona.’ That’s why, you have to clear your mind and prepare yourself before you come.”
He tells us the most Important Question:
“…though I had had many names and titles, there had always been only one question behind everything I had done. That question was, “Who am I?”…”
He explains the role of the Earth:
“…the Earth is also an organic life form; it has an energy system similar to that of the human body. Vortexes perform a similar role for the Earth as chakras do in the human body…The vortex energy of Sedona has the power to correct the energy imbalance in the human chakras.”
He Illuminates the Pathway towards Self-Realization:
“…You have to know that the sense of being that seems to extend infinitely without beginning or end is not an illusion…you are then able to embrace all moments of life with confidence…”
He shares his Sedona epiphany:
“As I looked at the dazzling beauty of Sedona’s Earth and sky awash with the morning sun, my heart skipped a beat, and it occurred to me that this just might be the place that I had been searching for for so long.”
And this is only a mere fraction of this amazing book…
‘The Call of Sedona- Journey of the Heart’ is a rich, interwoven tapestry of personal experiences, philosophical reflections, and celebration of the harmonious energy of the Red Rocks. It delves into the infinite possibilities that will manifest themselves when you meditate on the bucolic serenity of Sedona.
It is poignant and engaging at every turn.
‘The Call of Sedona’ is a Love Letter written not only about Sedona, but also about a Deep and Abiding love and concern for all humanity.
Thank you so much Mr. Lee!
I was a student at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 1995, and that was year I first saw Sedona. I came down from Flagstaff into a world that was so natural and beautifully stunning. I felt empowered to believe in myself as I played upon the red rocks. From within myself I could sense that life was now waiting for me. Life called to me in Sedona to become a healer. Just like everyone else, I had absorbed the pure Sedona energy and life has been a wonderful journey since. As I took in the magical vistas, back in 1995 my life had really then just begun. Sedona’s magic is that it brings you to life.
who is in charge of a local consulting company that is working on projects for bettering Sedona and bringing spiritually-oriented visitors to our city, the author, Ilchi Lee, took the stage. 
January 1, 2012
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